Flowers in a garden 1920

Tadeusz Makowski painted these flowers, probably in oil, with a clear love for process. The strokes are visible and direct, not blended into oblivion, which keeps it lively. The painting has a kind of earthy quality, with the browns and greens playing off the brighter reds and yellows. You can almost smell the damp soil. Look at the leaves – each one is like a little study in color and light. It’s tempting to see the painting as a metaphor for life. The way the different elements vie for space, some bright and bold, others hidden in shadow. It's all held together with the thick, almost sculptural paint. Makowski was influenced by artists like Chaim Soutine, who also used expressive brushwork. But here, the painting feels more hopeful, more about the joy of seeing. Art doesn't have to give you all the answers, it can just be an experience, a way of looking and feeling.